In 1944, DeWitt Peters, an American, established the Centre d'Art d'Haiti in Port au Prince. No one then thought it would catalyze such an incredible explosion of the Haitian creative spirit. Artists who joined the Centre close to its inception are known as
First Generation Artists. These artists and other major figures continue to exert an enormous influence over the development of Haitian Art. Their work is prized and of particular interest to collectors.